-
“Two pigs were last seen heading north …”
The notice said, “Two pigs were last seen heading north on Eighth Street … .” It was our neighborhood Facebook group page, where folks post missing dogs and cats, if one needs lawn service or there are free items in the alley. It seems they were pet pigs (not sure how you could tell. Perhaps they had better manners as they ran through adjacent yards). If someone knows of a poster stating someone had lost their dog or cat, others would try and match up the person to the pet. Surely there couldn’t be more than one set of lost pet pigs in our particular neighborhood? One helpful person thought…
-
Community is important
Merriam-Webster defines community as “a unified body of individuals: such as the people with common interests living in a particular area … a social state or condition … or society at large. In this current time, I’d like to talk about the “people with common interests …”. Sheltering in place due to the spread of the coronavirus has been going on now for two weeks but it seems like months. My husband and I always wished we had more time to spend together, as our familial community, so you’d think we’d be in heaven. He suffers from depression and being able to swim almost every day really helps him physically…
-
At this time …
IWSG and Blogging from A to Z: At this time, how are things in your world? Three weeks ago, I wouldn’t have imagined working from home, from my kitchen table, enjoying the view from my kitchen window (see photo above). I am a marketing director for a nonprofit who is struggling to survive (both physically and from a business standpoint). Writing for the A to Z Challenge and the Insecure Writer’s Support Group takes on a whole new feel. My professional writing usually consists of advertising and promotional copy, blog posts and lots of editing AP-style. Recently, my writing/editing has included Covid-19 updates. Quite the change. My personal creative writing…
-
A new normal?
So, a lot has changed since October, when I last posted to my blog. I think my writing has been hibernating, afraid to come out for fear of frostbite. Is that possible? In a week, it will be April and of course that means taking part in the Blogging A to Z blogathon. I’m not sure I’ll make it – okay, that’s not the right way to go into this event. Yes, I’m sure I’m going to blog every day (except Sunday) in April, fully completing the A to Z blogathon! So, Covid 19 happened. Today the first death in our county was reported. The only data that we have…
-
“C”rochet the night away …
Throwback Thursday – from Aug., 2017. Note the 2018 update at the end! Have you ever wanted to learn how to do something so badly? Something that has alluded you, taunted you, frustrated you, gnawed at you? That’s the way I feel about learning to crochet. I learned how to knit when I was 12. My grandmother taught me and I made a stocking cap. And then I quit. My grandmother knit afghans, sweaters, vests – anything she could think of. She even knit a full set of Barbie clothes for my dolls. My dolls had a beautiful skirt and sweater set, pants, several coats, dresses, etc. She even knit…
-
#CTST: Starbucks!
In Celebrating the Small Things, I have to applaud Starbucks. One day this week I had a warm, chocolate hazelnut croissant and a Chai tea from Starbucks. It was heavenly! I don’t ordinarily promote corporate establishments but I had been having a hard week. Work was busy and I had a pinched nerve in my neck. I finally broke down and went to the chiropractor. On the way back to work, I stopped at Starbucks and noticed a new seasonal pastry, the tasty croissant, and I ordered one with my favorite, a Chai tea latte with almond milk. Not only was my neck feeling better after the doctor’s appointment, but…
-
Baking and Christmas memories
My family doesn’t have many Christmas traditions but I treasure the ones we have. Baking sweet treats during the holiday is one of my favorites. My Grandma Rose was the master baker in our family. She played bridge with ladies each week and they took turns bringing a dessert. Between her friends and Grandma’s eagle eye for yummy recipes in the newspaper, she acquired the best recipes imaginable. When I was little, I’d sometimes stay overnight with my grandparents on Friday, and Saturday morning my Grandma and I would make cookies together. This was after she served her famous Swedish pancakes (crepes) for breakfast! She knew most of the recipes…
-
CTST: Summer time harvest
Celebrate the Small Things: Taking stock of life’s summer harvest It’s the end of August, which is a month that marks for many the beginning of school, the end of vacations and an end to summer, which has breezed past us in a humid fog. I ran across this photo from last year and it reminded me of summer’s progress. I’ve accomplished some of my goals (indicated by the harvested area of the field) but there is still time to water, weed and harvest healthy crops. There’s still time to celebrate what’s left of summer. And, I’m trying really hard not to rush into fall, which is my favorite time of…
-
CTST: Tasty produce and the farmers who grow it
Celebrate the Small Things: The hard work of farmers to produce healthy, tasty fruits and vegetables. This time of year, the farmers start to see the fruits of their labor and we have especially tasty choices at local farmers’ markets and in grocery stores who feature locally grown produce. I can’t wait until those juicy red, yellow and orange tomatoes ripen and the tender, yellow sweetcorn matures! Until I took part in a Consumer Support Agriculture (CSA) several times, I didn’t know there could be such a difference in taste, between organic, locally grown vegetables and those found year-long in big-chain stores. There is a huge difference and I’m spoiled.…
-
Kindness Challenge (wk5) and CTST: Grateful for kindness
Celebrating the Small Things: For the first time in 43 years, I can see 20/20 without glasses, contacts or reading glasses. I had cataract and cornea reshaping surgery last week and it’s truly amazing what the doctors can accomplish! During this seven-week Kindness Challenge, I’ve become more aware of the large and small kindnesses in my life. Here are a few that I’m especially grateful for, and none of them require money. 1. Marriage My husband is one of the kindness people I know. He was a struggling college student when I met him, getting his master’s degree in Denver, and yet he always found ways to help people around…
